Sentimental Value

by Mike McGranaghan

The last time director Joachim Trier, writer Eskil Vogt, and actress Renate Reinsve teamed up, it yielded The Worst Person in the World, one of 2021’s best films. Their latest collaboration, Sentimental Value, is less provocative and therefore a little less immediately gripping. But like its predecessor, the movie takes pleasure in examining the often-tormented relationships between individuals, this time within a family. There’s a cinematic twist, too.

Nora (Reinsve) and Agnes (Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas) are siblings whose lives are upended when their estranged father Gustav Borg (Stellan Skarsgård) shows up unexpectedly. He’s a well-known director planning to make what he hopes will be his comeback film, and he wants stage actress Nora to star, since the main character was inspired by her. She wants no part of it, so he hires Hollywood star Rachel Kemp (Elle Fanning) instead. Rachel has trouble getting the hang of the character, though, and the more Gustav waves his screenplay around, the more Nora and Agnes realize he’s trying to exorcise personal demons related to being a parent.

Sentimental Value is very much a “read between the lines” kind of picture. Father and daughters don’t often speak outright due to the relationship strain. Stopping short is what generally occurs. Despite that, Nora sees that Rachel is trying to absorb something - anything - she can use to formulate her character, and both she and Agnes recognize that Gustav is telling them something via the script. It’s a meaningful conceit that he can only tell his daughters how he feels via his art.

Skarsgård and Reinsve are very good at letting you know where their characters are at, even when they aren’t openly expressing their emotions. Watching the movie, you can sense the moments of extreme discomfort, but also the spots where the ice begins to thaw a little bit. Much of the story is predicated around the idea that, while they don’t always confront the issues head-on, Nora and Gustav do know how to communicate, even if it is in a somewhat roundabout manner. Fanning provides a nice contrast, playing a young woman who makes herself perpetually open. Her strong performance serves to reinforce how impenetrable dynamics between the Borgs can be.

Agnes gets her own subplot involving Gustav having cast her in one of his movies as a child and her having resented it. This section is weirdly minimized, as the character disappears for long stretches. Nora is far and away the dominant focus. Consequently, where Agnes and Gustav end up is less potent than where Nora and Gustav do. It might have been smarter to just have one daughter in the plot.

Sentimental Value nevertheless remains a thoughtful family drama marked by powerful acting from an impressive ensemble cast. Sharp dialogue, authentic conflicts, and resolutions that feel credible help the film create a genuine emotional impact.

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